NATHAN  B.  WHITFIELD

     Nathan B. Whitfield, distributor in New Haven of the Overland cars and well known as a representative of the automobile business, was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina, September 23, 1876, a son of Bryan and Ellen (White) Whitfield. The father was born in North Carolina, where his ancestors had lived through many generations, but in 1895 he removed with his family to New Haven. When in his native state he was a well known planter and after removing to the north engaged in the carpentering and contracting business. He died in 1909, at the age of sixty-two years, and is still survived by his widow, who has now reached the age of seventy-one, making her home with her son Nathan. In their family were ten children: James, Thomas, Mrs. Fannie Foster, Richard, Lucy, Nathan, William, Annie, Louise and Mary. All are yet living with the exception of Lucy.
     Nathan B. Whitfield attended school at Henderson, North Carolina, and when his textbooks were put aside entered the wholesale tobacco business in that state, continuing actively in that line for five years. He was a youth of nineteen when in 1895 he came with his parents to New Haven, where he secured a position in a machine shop and here worked for a short time. It was thus that he secured his first practical knowledge of machinery. He was interested in the business from the start and he has always directed his efforts along that line. He became interested in the bicycle business, in which he continued until 1902. In that year Mr. Whitfield became agent for the Ford car and sold the first car of that make that was ever delivered in New Haven. He continued handling the Ford uintil 1906, when he became agent for the Reo line and in 1909 took the Overland agency, conducting the two until 1911, but since then he has been distributor and agent of the Overland line ex-clusively. He started business in a small way with a net capital of but one hundred dollars, and something of the energy, enterprise and ability which he has applied to his interests is indicated in the fact that he now owns and conducts the largest Overland automobile agency and service station in the state. His business has assumed extensive proportions and his life record is an indication of the fact that the road of opportunity is open to all of those who care to travel therein. He has one of the finest automobile showrooms, offices and buildings devoted to the business in the state and the largest service station east of New York city.
     On the 15th of November, 1899, Mr. Whitfield was married in New Haven to Miss Florence Holmes, a daughter of A. Wilson Holmes, of New Haven, now deceased. They have two children: Raymond Holmes, who was born July 28, 1901, and is attending high school; and Russell Gordon, born June 5, 1903, who is also in high school.
     Mr. Whitfield and his wife hold membership in the Presbyterian church and they are well known socially. He belongs to the Automobile Club and to the Governor's Foot Guard and his interests are those of a progressive, public-spirited man. He stands as a splendid example of American manhood and chivalry.